I’m trying to get to N1 to go to a Japanese University in 2.5 Years. I have experience in Japanese from previously, which I got to roughly 75% of N5. I am using WaniKani and Bunpro at 15 vocab per day and 3 grammar per day; however, many kanji and vocab I learn on WaniKani. Does this seem like a quick enough pace to sufficiently prepare me in 2.5 years, assuming I am also incorporating immersion and writing, as well as reading, into my routine? I’m mainly asking because it’s kind of easy as it is, even learning new things that I didn’t know previously, so I was skeptical that this was quick enough to progress in time. I spend 2-3 hours per day studying, which includes reviews, writing, and immersion to break up the monotony.
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Hi! I haven’t taken the N1 yet but I’d say, according to the math, you definitely can: You’d have to learn 3 Kanji (2.19), 1 grammar point (1.00) and 11 vocab words (10.05) a day to learn all the kanji, grammar points and vocab required for N1 (according to Bunpro and WK).
More specifically, according to Bunpro there’s 915 Grammar points to learn for the N1. Learning 3 per day it would take you 305 days to learn all of them aka less than a year.
For the 9172 vocab words you need according to Bunpro it will take 612 days so around 1.7 years at your current pace.
Both of those aren’t taking your prior knowledge or things learned through WaniKani, reading and writing into account.
For your Kanji knowledge it depends on your WaniKani schedule but Lvl 60 is absolutely doable in 2.5 years. However, do keep in mind that there’s around 250 Kanji at the N1 level that WaniKani does not cover that you’ll have to learn another way.
My advice would be not to stress! Your goal is 100% attainable in the time frame ASSUMING you keep consistent. You could probably even relax it somewhat, seeing as you’ll learn all the necessary grammar in less than a year at this pace.
If you can follow this schedule easily even as reviews pile up? Awesome, keep going. If it gets a bit much? Scale down to the minimum you want to do to feel like you’re progressing (or the info I gave right at the beginning) and that doesn’t ever feel overwhelming.
I hope this helped somewhat! Best of luck in your Japanese Learning and getting into that university 2.5 years from now!
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Thanks, I’ll study hard!
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The pacing sounds fine, just make sure that you’re doing stuff to practice in all of the areas of language learning. You’ve got some good stuff in your list but there’s a few things missing. Try to find a way to practice conversation.
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Yes, it’s definitely possible to reach N1 in 2.5 years, especially with the structure and consistency you’ve already built into your routine.
That said, it’s important to remember that going through the material isn’t the same as mastering it. Tools like WaniKani and Bunpro are great, but they’re just that: tools. They support your learning, but they don’t replace the need for comprehension, output, and real-world exposure.
You mentioned the pace feels kind of easy, which might actually be a sign that you’re ready to push further. If you’re finding it manageable, it could be a good time to introduce more native content, more active writing or speaking, or slightly raise your daily workload. The goal isn’t just to finish content, but to make sure it’s truly sticking and usable.
For reference, Japanese language schools in Japan usually aim to get students from zero to N1 in about two years. That involves three hours of class per day, plus homework and full immersion. If you can mirror even part of that through consistent self-study and exposure to real Japanese, you’re setting yourself up for success.
I’ve seen people hit N1 in under two years with the right mix of study and immersion, and I’ve also seen people go through all the N1 material and still struggle with N3. The difference comes down to how much of what they studied they could actually use and understand.
With 2–3 hours of focused study a day, a balanced routine, and a long-term goal in mind, you’re on a solid path. Just keep checking in with yourself to make sure you’re not only covering material, but actually absorbing and applying it.
Good luck, and keep it up. 頑張ってください。
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Thanks for the feedback, I try compose sentences using words I find difficult or am newer to, I also do listening practice with podcasts and excerpts, I don’t do much speaking practice but I repeat all of the practice sentences on BunPro outloud and my original sentences as well. I’ve been thinking of trying to use the verbal chat feature of chatgpt for practice but I don’t know if it will be effective.
I would also encourage you to take lower-level JLPT tests once you reach that point, so that you get more familiar with the test environment, if that is an option. I would personally skip N5 and N4, but maybe try N3 or N2, if time and money permits.
The goal is definitely achievable, but I am a little worried that the actual studying at the Japanese University might require some other skills too, that are not tested on JLPT: writing and speaking. But it does seem like you are spending some time on writing already, which is great!
As this seems to be a serious post I’ll just add a comment as someone who got to N1 in around that timeframe. It is definitely possible but there are some traps you could fall into here.
- The higher levels take longer than the lower levels so be wary of calculating backwards based on the idea that N1 will take the same amount of time as N5.
- Beyond the lower levels you need to become solid at reading and listening. There is no real way to do this beyond getting a lot of good quality input.
- You need time for the material to settle in so it is not as simple as finishing N1 decks at the exact 2.5 year mark. You should ideally be around the level of passing the test on a good day at around 2 years and then have half a year to make sure you definitely are good enough.
There is also a very large gap between passing N1 and university level Japanese. I just want to check, OP, are you planning on attending as a regular student on a regular course? Or is this for an exchange or study abroad programme? I don’t want to offer advice on that front if it is irrelevant.
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I intend on attending a Japanese program (For bio undergrad and then a masters and doctorate in regenerative medicine) but I am aware that it is a rather difficult environment, especially in terms of listening, as such I have made plans to incorporate active listening practice into my studying although not yet. I also have started learning words specifically related to science and math, albeit slowly.
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If you are planning on attending university in Japan in Japanese then you need to be able to pass the EJU exam with a high score. Unlike JLPT exams, that requires you to be able to write compositions by hand, and to be able to answer high school level maths, science etc exam in Japanese (by hand). This is definitely possible to acheive in 2.5 years but not at the pace you have stated. There are specialist schools in Japan which train people to pass the exams to get into Japanese language undergrad programs in 2 years and they are full time (7-8 hours a day).
I have passed N1 and and there is no way that I could pass the EJU at a decent score. N1 gets you to about intermediate level Japanese and you’re aiming for advanced academic Japanese.
I advise that you look up the courses that you’re interested in doing and check the entry requirements. Also look at the JASSO website which I think sets the EJU exams. There are past papers there to give you an idea.
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Yep, I was basically going to say exactly what @Hamamelis said.
If you are a high school student who has 2.5 years until graduation, it is probably more realistic to study Japanese on the side before you graduate and then attend a university in your native language and go for your postgrad studies in Japanese, possibly doing a semester or year abroad in Japan if you can do so through your university. As mentioned above, it is also possible to attend one of the intensive language schools aimed at foreigners who want to attend Japanese universities but I believe this is quite an expensive option and also extremely hard work.
Keep in mind that you’ll be competing with Japanese high schoolers. Outside of the language requirements for foreigners you may also be interested in checking out things like the 共通テスト (a broad general university entrance exam used for applications) and the relevant 赤本 (university entrance exam practice question books, generally there is an edition for any given major university) for the universities you’re interested in to see the level that those high schoolers are at.
I think it is a great ambition to have and wish you luck. If you take things one step at a time and keep pushing forward I’m sure you’ll find the path that works for you! Good luck!
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Thanks, I am aware of the EJU test and all of my original sentences are handwritten for that reason, although I’m better and faster at typing. I have also started studying for the EJU and university entrance exams and am learning vocabulary here and there that relates to what I am learning. I learned rather quickly how massive an endeavor this would be but I tried to give myself ample fair amount of time to study. I do appreciate the feedback though.
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Thanks for the resources and insight, I will also say that I am not limited to going strait to university after high school and can take a gap year to further my preparation which I may end up doing. I actually am quite capable on the academic side so I am focusing more on Japanese while reviewing the things I have learned academically and learning additionally what I fall short on.
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You’re obviously very committed and determined which is the number 1 most important thing. And as long as you have the language skills/ test results, you’d have a very good chance at getting onto the course of your choosing. After all, the number of applicants to university are failing every year and many schools have set up separate application targets for overseas applicants. That would be happy to have you! It’s definitely possible and achievable imo.
But you also would want the experience to be fun, not all hard work and language struggle. So if you have the resources, looking into spending a year at an eju prep school in Japan would be a great idea. There are scholarships available, and many organisations that support this kind of thing depending on your country. If there’s a particular university/course that you want to attend, researching an event/conference you could attend in Japan in order to meet the relevant professors would also help you, as personal contacts mean more than is really reasonable. Also I highly recommend applying to any programme that would let you do a homestay. It will help your application and also be great learning experience- and hopefully fun!
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How common is it for foreigners to do undergrad in Japan in general? When some of my classmates were trying to get into US universities, it was a nightmare (maybe because most of them needed funding). It ended up being 10 times easier to go through the grad school route.
I personally thinking that getting a JLPT grade and being able to actually use Japanese are two related, but ultimately different skills. Studying to the point that you can pass an N1 is certainly possible in that time range, but I don’t think true language mastery will follow.
There’s just so many other skills (conversation, listening) that you don’t get unless you use the language, rather than only studying it.
Personally I got an N2 a couple years back but I still feel like I’m very lacking in active conversation. No one would probably guess that’s my actual JLPT Level if they heard me speaking. 
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I don’t have any data but not nearly as common as it is in many countries. I work with a lot of university students and from what they have said, foreign students tend to be from Korea or China. Probably because of the language requirements and entry exams. And also, if you’re going to go to university overseas, it’s not a great choice (she says, as someone chose to move to Japan). After all, the work environment is terrible, salaries are extremely low and the academic research environment is really restricted. Plus, its much easier to get a university place in the UK, for example, whether you are overseas or resident applicant. The application system in Japan is tough!
Although having said that, the schools that offer undergrad programmes taught in English seem to be increasing, e.g. Todai already has a big english language science programme and last month they made an announcement about a design school coming soon
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